Have a lovely break!

Reading over break:
We will come back on an A day. You should have read 566-571.
B day, you should have read 566-571 and 596-610. Some of you will have presentations on Friday, January 4th.

Extra credit over break!

Presentation assignment sheet

If you want something fun to read over break, that correlates to the time period we are reading right now, check out Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson. It's a creepy murder mystery and history learning experience all at once.

You have all done an incredible job so far this semester--I have been really impressed by your work ethic and smarts. Even for those who find the readings and tests a challenge, you've really stuck with it and are doing a great job. So, please take a little time to relax and enjoy the holiday break with your family and friends. Go for a walk, read a book for fun, sleep in, and stay out of trouble. Come back refreshed & healthy in January!

P.S. Did you know that the modern version of Christmas in the US, complete with Santa Claus and commercialized gift exchanges developed during the Gilded Age? Thomas Nast popularized Santa......

Extra Credit

Extra credit is available over winter break. See here, or click on the Extra Credit tab above. Happy reading!

2012 Midterm Possibilities

2012 Midterm Essay Possibilities

1. Compare the ways in which TWO of the following reflected tensions in colonial society: Bacon’s Rebellion (1676); Pueblo Rebellion (1680); Salem witchcraft trials (1692); Stono Rebellion (1739)
2. To what extent did political parties contribute to the development of national unity in the United States between 1790 and 1840?
3. Although the power of the national government increased during the early republic, this development often faced serious opposition. Compare the motives and effectiveness of those opposed to the growing power of the national government in TWO of the following: Whiskey Rebellion, 1794; Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, 1798-1799; Hartford Convention, 1814-1815; Nullification Crisis, 1832-1833
4. To what extent and in what ways did the roles of women change in American society between 1790 and 1860? Respond with reference to TWO of the following areas: Domestic, economic, political, and social
5. Discuss the political, economic, and social reforms introduced in the South between 1864 and 1877.  To what extent did these reforms survive the Compromise of 1877?
6. Popular fascination with the cowboy, the pioneer, and stories of Horatio Alger in the period 1870 to 1915 reflected America’s uneasiness of transition from an agrarian to an industrial society.  Assess the validity of this statement.   

Part E of Indian Boarding School Assignment

For those of you who did not finish in class:

Please write an introduction paragraph to an essay responding to the following prompt:

"Assimilation was the best possible option for Native Americans as it allowed them a chance to be successful in America for the first time." Assess the validity of this statement. 

Hint: Consider the strengths and weakness of this policy, as well as previous Native American policy, and then decide if it was beneficial or not.

Midterm Essay Possibilities

These will be edited from last year's set...give me a day or two and I will post.